Download Free Software Dell B130 Laptop Manual
Floriana Monterroza
First, take that router back and get a plain Linksys WRT54G, you wasted your money. That router uses SRX technology and the only way to get the SRX speed improvements is to use SRX wireless adapters in the PCs. The B130 with it's onboard wireless adapter is not compatible with the WRT54GX2 for anything faster than 54Mbps, the 802.11g standard. You may get slight range improvements with the WRT54GX2, but they would be slight.
Look at the installation manual that comes with the router. It's a .pdf file on the install CD. The modem connects to the router's WAN (or internet) port using an ethernet cable. The wired desktop will connect to one of the router's LAN ports. There are 4 available. The laptop will connect wirelessly. Since both PCs are connecting to the same router they will participate in the same network and will be able to share the internet connection and perform File and Printer Sharing. The desktop does not need to be wireless.
It's a good idea to have one PC connected to the router wired. All manufacturers require firmware updates be installed over a wired connection. And you need a wired connection to configure and troubleshoot the wireless part of the router.
To connect the router, power off everything. Connect the router to the modem and the desktop to the router. Turn on the modem and let it synchronize with the ISP - a minute or two. Then turn on the router and let it synchronize with the modem. Finally turn on the desktop. Once that all works move on to the wireless laptop.
"When I go to set up the laptop wirelessly, will I have to use an ethernet cable to plug it into the router until it recognizes the connection..." -- No. The software controlling the wireless network adpater in the laptop has the capability to scan for available wireless networks and you will be able to select which one you want to connect to. There will be your own network and perhaps some other neighboring networks. Simply select your network and tell the software to connect. The wireless connection will be established and you will be able to open a web browser and surf the internet. No wires.
In this model the lid close switch is discrete module and mounted under the right hinge.
If the lid close switch failed, you can remove it and replace with a new one or simply unplug the faulty switch from the motherboard and use the laptop without it.
That is info on the locking clip for the keyboard. Aran is talking about the little cable for the touchpad. I found it easy to take out the cable by slowly and carefully sliding it out, putting it back in was harder though. Also, connecting the wifi cable was hard as it was not long enough to do with the screen off.
Second, for Jeff: To pull the pieces out from what your daughter broke off, you will need a soldering iron and a sturdy set of tweezers. The key is to work quickly. If possible, use a temperature controlled soldering iron. If this is not in the bank account, then I would recommend a 25 watt soldering iron. I think a 40 watt is way too hot for a circuit board.
Put some flux on the connection and with a hot soldering iron, touch the joint while pulling on the post with the tweezer. If all goes perfectly, it should pull out rather quickly. Leave the iron on the joint for only a few seconds. Overheating that joint can cause the pad to raise and killing the connection in the main board.
Update: laptop is working great and battery is charging 100% and it still can be used while charging. It works either plugged in or if i just want to just use the battery. On this model the battery does not need to be in laptop if you have it plugged in.
Great guide, i am a experienced in pc repair but put off working on laptops because they can be a pain to take apart (fear of breaking bezel pieces). Kudos to the author for all the great pictures and clear instructions.
Hi, I have a dell insprion 9400. Is there anything different with the dell 9400 comparing to your instructions that I need to pay attention to before attempting this power jack problem? also, for a normal person who does not have any soldering tool at home, what tool do you suggest I can buy?
Thanks.
Thank you for your help. I have had this laptop for 5 years and been fighting the good fight with the power cable for about 2. My laptop became a desktop, until I found your guide. Instead of just fixing the power connector I spent the $50 and bought a whole new motherboard. After installing the new motherboard everything works, except that the computer is running so much slower than before. Any suggestions?
This was the first laptop hardware repair I have attempted, and now, thanks to your guide it was also a successful one. I was very apprehensive about taking laptops apart due to a complete lack of experience, but your thorough documentation along with the clear pictures made it very straight forward and quite enjoyable.
Maybe I can help. I recently took apart my Dell Inspiron 1300 to repair its DC jack and had a hard time replacing the screws as well. After some trial and error I seem to have got it right. There are three types of screws, a 3mm (short), a 5mm (medium) and 8mm (long) screw. The four screws that hold the LCD screen in place (also marked by the letter D) are 8mm (long) screws. The two screws underneath the LCD screen are 3mm (short) screws. The 5 or 6 screws underneath the keyboard that holds the top on are 5mm (medium) screws. The eight screws on the bottom of the laptop should all be 8mm long screws. The five screws securing the motherboard should all be 5mm (medium) screws. I hope this helps you or anybody else. This is a great guide with pictures on how to fix a laptop DC jack, but could have used this information as well.
Hi, I have dell inspiron b120. It would boot to blue screen error. I was going to install new os and save system. It had minimum 256 ram so I tried to upgrade ram. I have upgraded ram before. After attempted upgrade, the system only shows green charging light when ac power plugged in. When you hit pwr button all lights flash once and immediately turn off. I do not believe I shorted mother board when I installed ram but this is possible due to static. Does it sound like a bad MB? I have a new MB coming but would like to be able to salvage this one.
The battery was completely juiced and I had done a hard reset to discharge power before installing the ram. I got a neww battery it charged for a while (30 min+) with a slowly flashing green light then changed to an orange flashing light. So will not start with battery or ac power alone. This seems to mean the dc jack is okay, or could it still be faulty? Please any advice is helpful, I have read all 50 comments on the page. Great info here, thanks to all posters and original creator.
I have dell inspiron b120. It would boot to blue screen error. I was going to install new os and save system. It had minimum 256 ram so I tried to upgrade ram. I have upgraded ram before. After attempted upgrade, the system only shows green charging light when ac power plugged in.
Thankyou IML Tech for your help. I reseated the ram and it worked but I discovered it was the DC Jack all along. The computer posted b/c of the charged battery, previously had a dead one. In the BIOS setup screen I saw the screen flicker dim on and off. I adjusted the jack and it stayed bright. I must have a bad dc jack connection and need to do the repairs detailed on this page.
Again thanks for solving this mystery.
Thank you for your outstanding tutorial for B130.
Thanks instruction unfolded my laptop and made reparation bad zalemljenog DC connectors. Now my computer runs smoothly and without overheating connector.